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A young woman wearing glasses and a green turtleneck sweater is leaning relaxed at a white desk in a modern office. In the background, an elderly man is working on two monitors with CAD software. Plants, folders and picture frames give the room a personal atmosphere--A young woman wearing glasses and a green turtleneck sweater smiles and looks to the side. She is wearing a discreet necklace and has her blonde hair tied back. In the background, you can see white office cabinets and file folders, which provide a professional working environment--A hand with dark nail polish and a delicate bracelet checks or adjusts a tool on a CNC machine. The metal cutter is precisely manufactured, and the blurred background shows an industrial workshop environment--A young woman with glasses and nose piercing works concentrated on a CNC machine and checks the milling tools used. She is wearing a beige polo shirt. In the background, two blurred people stand in a bright workshop environment with shelves and machines
Talents

Learned is earned

Originally trained as a jeweler, Kerstin Schloffer eventually discovered her passion for wood. A journey driven by her love for learning and the joy of creating something tangible.

A young woman wearing glasses and a green turtleneck sweater is leaning relaxed at a white desk in a modern office. In the background, an elderly man is working on two monitors with CAD software. Plants, folders and picture frames give the room a personal atmosphere

"I just think it is cool that in the workshop, you build something from scratch, and then you see the finished piece and can say, ‘I made this, and it looks great.’ The same goes for planning – when you finish a plan or a 3D drawing and can use it to inspire others, seeing that they can now really visualize the project." Clearly, Kerstin has found her calling in her second career attempt.

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When asked why she switched from precious metals to fine woods, Kerstin simply replies: "I wanted to do something different. Learn something new. And if I am going to make a change, it has to be something completely different so I can learn as much as possible. Also, I wanted to complete my Matura." Long-term, being a jeweler didn’t feel right for her, but she has no regrets. "It is a beautiful profession. I’m really glad I did it, and I learned a lot."

A young woman wearing glasses and a green turtleneck sweater smiles and looks to the side. She is wearing a discreet necklace and has her blonde hair tied back. In the background, you can see white office cabinets and file folders, which provide a professional working environment
A hand with dark nail polish and a delicate bracelet checks or adjusts a tool on a CNC machine. The metal cutter is precisely manufactured, and the blurred background shows an industrial workshop environment
A young woman with glasses and nose piercing works concentrated on a CNC machine and checks the milling tools used. She is wearing a beige polo shirt. In the background, two blurred people stand in a bright workshop environment with shelves and machines
On the Educational Path

A Lifelong Learner

When it comes to learning, Kerstin is hard to beat. In her mid-20s, she recently completed her Matura in October 2024. She passed her final apprenticeship exam as a carpentry technician last year, and her jewelry apprenticeship was completed a while ago. As for a bachelors degree, Kerstin says, "Maybe someday." Who knows? In the meantime, she is working on a large project at Josef Göbel, making windows for a major order at the Heumarkt in Vienna. After that, she will likely move on to glazing, and if all goes well, she may return to planning.

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Kerstin explains, "The great thing about our company is that there are so many opportunities – not just in the workshop but also in the office. The variety of tasks allows you to try out different things." And though she does not say it directly, it is clear that she will continue to take full advantage of these opportunities. After all, there is always something new to learn.

As a passionate Western rider who spends a good chunk of her free time at the stable, Kerstin’s love for new challenges is not confined to her career. Whether it is in wood, metal, or the saddle, she is always eager to lean something new.

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